43,700 CHF
Venus and AdonisGoullons A Paris, circa 1650. Important and rare 20 ct. gold, painted on enamel, single-hand lady's pendant watch. Painted enamel on gold, repeating the same motifs as the band, Roman chapters on outer white enamel ring with half-hour divisions, iner quarter-hour ring. Blued-steel hands. 26.6 mm o, hinged, gilt brass full plate, turned baluster pillars, fusee and gut-line, verge escapement, two-arm steel balance without spring, elongated asymmetrically pierced and foliate engraved cock secured by a screw, four-wheel train with five-leaf pinions, worm and wheel set up with a silver scale plate mounted on the set-up wheel.Signed on the movement.Diam. 32 mm. Published in the Sandberg book, page 70-71. Notes The period of the 1630's to the 1670's represents the apogee of the French (Paris and Blois) school of enamel, during which artistry and technique were unsurpassed. It was developed in Blois, France. A goldsmith from Blois, Jean Toutin (born in Châteaudun), is credited with the invention of the technique in 1632, as reported by one of his contemporaries, Felibien des Avaux, in 1676. In fact, the invention was probably made ten or twelve years earlier. In 1618/19 Toutin published six plates of enravings with designs for enamelled watches. Although the technique was a closely-guarded secret, kept within the family, it nevertheless spread quickly. Probably through his associate Isaac Gribelin and two sons, also enamel painters, of whom one settled in Pari
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2001-03-31
